^Lot 175 Winston Churchill

TLS signed “Yours sincerely, Winston S. Churchill,” two pages, 7.5 x 9.5, Prime Minister letterhead, July 21, 1953. Letter to Sir Norman Brook. In full: “Here is Bedell’s answer to the Eisenhower references. I should be grateful if you would give me your opinion on the points mentioned. We certainly might meet the bulk of them, though it is not possible for me to conceal my aversion to ‘Anvil.’ To be quite just one ought to emphasize how much ‘Anzio’ took the place reserved for Teheran for ‘Anvil.’ What a funny typing area to write ‘champion’ for ‘challenge’! I think we have now got all the necessary permits and I propose, if you think this is so, to let Camrose have the text in a few days for serial publication after October. This will give a good interval for further correction and improvement, and perhaps other things may settle themselves. It gives me much pleasure to address this letter with my own hand.” In very good condition, with a central horizontal fold, an old staple to top left corner, some light toning to first page, a punch hole to top left of second page, and tape and adhesive remnants to corners of second page.

Churchill’s letter regards the serial publication of his sixth volume of memoirs, Triumph and Tragedy, accepted by British and American publishers in 1953. In this letter, he refers to Operation Anvil, the allied invasion of Southern France that commenced in August of 1944, as well as the Battle of Anzio and the Tehran Conference. “Bedell’s answer” was likely from Walter Bedell Smith, under secretary of state in the Eisenhower administration. “Camrose” is William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, a British newspaper publisher. He was also Churchill’s benefactor, providing financial assistance to him after the Second World War and ensuring Churchill could keep his home Chartwell. Churchill naturally expressed “pleasure to address this letter with my own hand,” as he was still recuperating from the severe stroke he suffered at 10 Downing Street the month before. A fine letter from the great statesman and author who would win the Nobel Prize for Literature this same year.